Cushion spring



June 15 ,1926. 1,589,092

J- C. BAREFOQT CUSHION SPRING Fi led Dec. 18, 1924 Patented June 15, 1926.

PATENT OFFICE.

JOSIE C. BAREFOOT, 01! CHARLOTTE, NORTH CAROLINA.

CUSHION SPRING.

Application filed DecemberlB, 1924. Serial- No. 756,814.

The object of my invention is to provide an improved type of spring which will increase the efficiency of the conventional leaf spring which will prolong the life of the 5 spring and tend to distribute the strains over a larger area, and which will also tend to prevent binding, sticking, rusting of the spring leaves, and eliminate the necessity for lubricating the springs.

I attain the object of my invention by the mechanism illustrated in the accompanying drawings, in which Figure 1 is a side elevation of my invention;

Fig. 2 is a plan view of one of the units I including members 3 and 5;

Fig. 3 is a' longitudinal section on line 3-3 of Fig. 2;

Fig. 4 is a plan view of a modification;

a and Fig.5 is a plan view of a further modification. 7

. Like numerals designate like parts in each of the several views.

Referring to the accompanying drawings,

1 designates the leaves of a conventional spring such asis used on vehicles: I provide a series of resilient strips, preferably of rubber, 3, having an openin 4 at the 80 central portion. thereof, in whic is positioned a metal insert'or block 5 which is provided with an aperture 6 through which the bolt 2 may be inserted. The arrangementof the rubber strips 3 spacing each metal spring leaf apart eliminates the necessity of lubrication, greatl increases the shock absorbing capacity 0 the leaf spring as a whole, and tends to distributethe strain over a larger area of the spring leaf, making the springs more elastlc and retarding crystallization of the steel besides preventin sticking or rusting of the leaves. The meta blocks or inserts 5 prevent the weight of the vehicle from resting directly on the rubber cushions when the spring is not functioning, and the cost of the installation is small. 5

I may provide rubber strips having a modified form of central opemng 7 and -a correspondingly shaped metal insert -8, as shown-in Fig. 4. Or I may provide a rubber strip having reinforcing wire 9 vul canized or otherwise suitably embedded in the rubber, as shown ingFig. 5.

What I claim is: V

A cushion leaf spring comprising metal spring leaves, means for fastening the leaves together, a series of resilient strips insertedbetween successive leaves, metal inserts positioned in the central rtion of the resilient strips, said inserts aving apertures for -a bolt to pass through, and a reinforcing wireembedded in each resilient strip and encircling the portion of the strip containing the metal insert.

JOSIE o. BAREFOOT. 

